duty-bound
Obligated by honor
Duty-bound means obligated by moral, legal, or professional responsibility.
Someone duty-bound to act has no ethical choice but to do so: As her attorney, I'm duty-bound to advise against speaking to the press.
The term emphasizes that obligation comes from principle rather than personal desire.
Required by duty
- beholdenOwing thanks or duty
- indebtedOwing thanks or money
- swornBound by formal promise
- pledgedFormally promised something
mandated · required · incumbent · liable · burdened · compelled · necessitated · enjoined
Bound with metal restraints
- fetteredBound in chains
- chainedBound with links
- tiedFastened by knotting
- restrictedLimited in scope
compelled · coerced · obliged · encumbered · trammelled · yoked · hamstrung · beholden
Loyally and lovingly attached
- dedicatedWholly committed to something
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
- loyalFirm in allegiance
- faithfulConsistently loyal and true
unwavering · staunch · constant · true · allegiant · reliable · dependable · earnest
Morality based on obligations
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
righteousness · rectitude · probity · scruples · Kantian · categorical imperative · moral law · right conduct
Obligated to explain oneself
- answerableLiable to account
- liableLegally responsible for something
- trustworthyWorthy of confidence
- diligentPersistently attentive to tasks
conscientious · scrupulous · meticulous · vigilant · attentive · stewardship · custodian · charge
Having strong moral beliefs
- nobleTitled or virtuous
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- virtuousMorally excellent, principled
- dignifiedComposed and respectable
chivalrous · gallant · respectable · conscientious · incorruptible · selfless · decorous · reputable
Armed forces member
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
- patriotDevoted country supporter
- sentinelGuard who monitors
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
public servant · civil servant · juror · first responder · enlistee · functionary · commissioner
obligated
Required by duty
pledged · mandated · required · incumbent · liable · burdened · compelled · necessitated · enjoined · answerable
shackled
Bound with metal restraints
restricted · compelled · coerced · obliged · encumbered · trammelled · yoked · hamstrung · beholden · inescapable
devoted
Loyally and lovingly attached
faithful · unwavering · staunch · constant · true · allegiant · reliable · dependable · earnest · resolute
deontology
Morality based on obligations
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
virtue · righteousness · rectitude · probity · scruples · Kantian · categorical imperative · moral law · right conduct · uprightness
accountable
Obligated to explain oneself
- answerableLiable to account
- liableLegally responsible for something
- trustworthyWorthy of confidence
diligent · conscientious · scrupulous · meticulous · vigilant · attentive · stewardship · custodian · charge · guardianship
principled
Having strong moral beliefs
dignified · chivalrous · gallant · respectable · conscientious · incorruptible · selfless · decorous · reputable · stalwart
soldier
Armed forces member
guardian · public servant · civil servant · juror · first responder · enlistee · functionary · commissioner
- boundtied, restrained, confined, restricted, constrained
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
- commitment levelscommitted, dedicated, devoted, loyal, faithful
- necessitiesbasics, essentials, need, essential, needs
- burdenedburdened, laden, loaded, weighed down, overburdened
duty-boundunobligated
Not required to act
free · unbound · uncommitted · released · absolved
duty-boundfree to choose
autonomous · self-directed · unconstrained · voluntary · uncompelled
duty, bound, bind, binder, binding, rebound, dutiful, duties, boundless